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Posted: Thursday, June 3rd, 2004 5:23 AM HST

Bill signed to increase renewable energy use

By Associated Press

(Honolulu-AP) -- Governor Lingle signed legislation today requiring that 20 percent of all electricity sold in Hawaii come from renewable sources by the end of 2020. Lingle signed the bill at Hawaiian Electric's fuel cell testing facility in Honolulu, saying it was the fulfillment of a campaign promise. But visibly absent were Democrats who worked on the bill and who claimed Lingle was taking credit for their success. Kauai Representative Hermina Morita, one of the bill's sponsors, shrugged off the snub, saying ``it's an election year.'' Morita says the governor may try to claim it as her administration's initiative, but it's something that has been discussed in the Legislature for the last five years. Lingle says majority Democrats were more a hindrance than a help in getting the bill passed, and that's why she excluded them from the bill signing. Under the new law, Hawaii electric companies must have eight percent of their net electricity sales come from renewable sources such as solar, wind and wave power by the end of 2005. That gradually increases to 20 percent by the end of 2020. (Copyright 2004 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)